I'm in a slump, that I can't get out of.

[JoeST]

For some reason I have gotten into a big slump that I cannot manage to pull out of. When I first got started in this I was doing really well, had tons of energy, was always ready to go, & wonted to do even more when I knew I had enough.
Now almost every time I go to do my work out I just can't get into it. I will drag through the first part hoping that I will come to life somewhere in the middle, which I have a couple times. But the last few times I just cannot get going no matter what.
The only thing I have changed is that I'm eating more & I'm not doing much if any cardio. I stopped the cardio because at first I was trying to loose some of my belly fat, but thinking I could gain a bit of muscle. I did gain a small amount of muscle & lost a bit of the fat. But I wont to add some noticeable mass, & now I just can't get into the grove.
I've tried to lay back for a few days thinking my body just needed some rest & that hasent helped. I've tried energy drinks like ABB's Speed Shot, & Adrenaline Stack & at first they were helpful to some degree but now have almost no effect. I'm not drinking them all the time so I wouldent think it was a tolerance thing. I have maybe two of them a week & normally they are about they only caffeinated thing I have.
I don't know what to do anymore. I have the desire to do it, but I'm lacking the energy to get me through. I wont desperately to get back on track but I'm not sure what to do.
Have any of you guys been through this? And if so how did you get out of the dead spot & get going again?

[m1k3g0rd]

I think 'a few days' is probably not enough. Try taking a complete week off and then see how you feel. Everyone needs that from time-to-time.

[Dem_Gnomes]

It sounds a lot like you are depressed.

Are you experiencing the same symptoms elsewhere in your life? If so, I'd suggest talking to a professional helper, such as a priest or pshrink.

Seriously, think of it as preventative medicine.

Alternatively, if you're just moping when you go to exercise, try shocking your system. Have you ever played paintball? Try that, or a trip to a Six-Flags type park. Something to give you a big adrenalin hit.

Then use cardio, which may remind your body of the adrenalin-fest you went to, to work your way back in.

A game of basketball or racketball might be a replacement for some of this. The trick is to have fun and get excited while doing something active. Then go to the gym, do something active (cardio) and hope the body's chemical memory gives you enough of a buzz to start working out again.

[JoeST]

I've thought about that a couple times, just havent been able to keep myself away from it yet. On one hand I feel like I need the break, than on the other I wont to keep going & just work past it some how.
But at the same time I'm probably doing more harm than good just dragging myself through a half ass work out.

I don't think depression is the problem. I've been in a better mood since I've starting working than I have been in a long time.
I do like your suggestion of doing something to "shock my system". I have become pretty board with the same thing day in & out. Pretty boring normal life, work, eat, sleep & don't get out much at all, except for riding my bike.
Though I don't really think I'm board with the work outs, just lacking the drive to go at it like I wont, if that makes any since.

[micro wave]

Sounds like you are discouraged as well. Have you set any small goals to make you feel like you are accomplishing something? Also I would pick a specific goal like losing the fat before going for mass etc.

Good luck.

[ALEX4500]

For some reason I have gotten into a big slump that I cannot manage to pull out of. When I first got started in this I was doing really well, had tons of energy, was always ready to go, & wonted to do even more when I knew I had enough.
Now almost every time I go to do my work out I just can't get into it. I will drag through the first part hoping that I will come to life somewhere in the middle, which I have a couple times. But the last few times I just cannot get going no matter what.
The only thing I have changed is that I'm eating more & I'm not doing much if any cardio. I stopped the cardio because at first I was trying to loose some of my belly fat, but thinking I could gain a bit of muscle. I did gain a small amount of muscle & lost a bit of the fat. But I wont to add some noticeable mass, & now I just can't get into the grove.
I've tried to lay back for a few days thinking my body just needed some rest & that hasent helped. I've tried energy drinks like ABB's Speed Shot, & Adrenaline Stack & at first they were helpful to some degree but now have almost no effect. I'm not drinking them all the time so I wouldent think it was a tolerance thing. I have maybe two of them a week & normally they are about they only caffeinated thing I have.
I don't know what to do anymore. I have the desire to do it, but I'm lacking the energy to get me through. I wont desperately to get back on track but I'm not sure what to do.
Have any of you guys been through this? And if so how did you get out of the dead spot & get going again?

I was in the same boat as you, but my problem was low T levels and that was at the age of 49. Now that I have that corrected my bad days are few and far between. But this is not to say I not have bad days in the guy, I do.
The things I've noticed with my body and and lack of motivation Doing the something over and over, I need verity so my trainer keeps me guess what the next workout will be. I just started lifting in January and at the time I weighed in at 146 and could only bench 125 and dead lift 145. This week I;m in at 168, bench is 335 and I just dead lifted 325( I'm stoked) I've busted a nut to get here and won't look back now. I have a good reason for bodybuilding, One I fight everyday called crohn's diseases lifting has help keep this diseaese under control, and the other reason I stay motovataed is this,

http://www.createspace.com/221842
click on the Enduro Kart Racer and you can see the second reason I need to stay in shape. When you watch keep in mind 125 mph is stock class one motor, My kart has two motors and hanging on to one of these for 45 minites
you have to be in shape. JoeST, I guess what I'm trying to say is, Chemicals
is not going to help you if your not in the right frame of mind, how is your sleep, whats up your diet, hows the home life or you happy. The answer is with you, all we can do is make suggestion's.

Good luck JoeST.

[Whiskeyjack]

I've thought about that a couple times, just havent been able to keep myself away from it yet. On one hand I feel like I need the break, than on the other I wont to keep going & just work past it some how.
But at the same time I'm probably doing more harm than good just dragging myself through a half ass work out.

I don't think depression is the problem. I've been in a better mood since I've starting working than I have been in a long time.
I do like your suggestion of doing something to "shock my system". I have become pretty board with the same thing day in & out. Pretty boring normal life, work, eat, sleep & don't get out much at all, except for riding my bike.
Though I don't really think I'm board with the work outs, just lacking the drive to go at it like I wont, if that makes any since.

Has your strength declined? Do you have bouts of weakness?

[Tyrbolift]

It's because you live in a place called Kokomo...

Get there faster and take it slow...
Way down in Kokomo

[Captain Ahab]

Hey JoeST:
What you are going through is not really that uncommon and many of us here on the over 35 board have been there and done that so don?t sweat it and let's see if we can work a few of these things through.
The very first thing I would do would be to take the complete week off. It will not hurt you in the long run and may give your body the needed rest that it so badly craves. If you have been working out for quite a while straight with no break then it is necessary to take a break. You should give your system a break for working out, cardio and dieting for a couple of days every 3 to 4 months so that you can stay in optimum mental and physical condition. If you have in fact been going to the gym on a frequent basis you have developed a routine or habit and like any habit it is hard to take a break when you need to without the urge to get in there and do a workout, especially half assed ones, but if that is what needs to be done then like any other part of your workout staying away from the gym is important too, just don?t sit around watching late night porn and eating chips and drinking beer.
During the week off make an appointment with your doctor and get a complete blood work up done and check have the MD check on a number of factors, one of which is testosterone but not the only one.
Start right away eating 5 to 6 or even 7 small, clean, protein rich meals per day so that you rev up your metabolism. Two or three of your meals can be protein shakes but you are going to need some good whole foods to build lean muscle as well as the shakes.
Once you have the rest and health situations taken care of and you are back at the gym, don?t take any energy supplements and get back to doing cardio. The only way that you will lose fat anywhere on your body and that is especially true for your waist area is by doing various forms of cardio and to tell what is working and what is not you need to be using the energy supplied from your own body for a while to determine what is what. Later if you need or want to you can add energy supplements but for the beginning I would suggest that you stay away from them. There is nothing wrong with wanting to gain some muscle and you will as you continue to lift but you need to get rid of the fat or else you set yourself up for another problem and that is working out like a dog and not seeing any definition.
If you have in fact been going to the gym on a frequent basis you have developed a routine or habit and like any habit it is hard to take a break when you need to without the urge to get in there and do a workout, but if that is what needs to be done then like any other part of your workout staying away from the gym is important too, just don?t sit around watching late night porn and eating chips and drinking beer.
The rest, going to the MD?s and starting to eat 5, 6 or 7 small meals a day will be a shock to your system and another option and this could be a harder one to do, may be to find a training partner. It helps many times to have someone waiting there for you to show and pushing you through your workouts. The problem is that training partners are few and far between and good ones are as scarce as, well, I had a few really rude things to put in here but lets just say they are really scarce.
I hope that some of these things can ease you back into feeling motivated and looking forward to pushing yourself to be the best that you can be.
I wish you much success.

[Bamma]

Alex mentioned it above, but low T levels can often give similar symptoms to depression. I would be sure to have that checked as well. Good luck to you.

[JoeST]

Wow, Thanks to everyone for their responses. Reps given..

First let me start by saying I think I helped myself somewhat to something I think I've desperately needed. Since I got started I gave up a lot of my favorite things, Beer, candy, & just general junk food & I havent ate out anywhere since the end of June ( which is when I started ). Well last night I said screw it & the wife & I went out to eat. And after dinner I had some junk snacks & I've had a few little things here & there today. I can honestly say that though I now realize I don't wont them all the time it did feel damn good to let go a bit. I'm going to have one last cheat tonight (wifes making brownies) & cut it off again for a bit.

Anyway let me see if I can hit on everything that was asked of me.
micro wave, You could be right about being discouraged. When I started I was pulling both ends of the rope, trying to loose & gain. I did get a bit of both worlds because I'm now showing some definition in my stomach that I never had & I've gained almost an inch on my arms. My chest is getting huge compared to where I was & my back is finally getting some muscle to it.
But what I don't get is I only feel like I'm doing something when I'm working out. After I've been lifting for about a half hour I start to feel pretty good, my arms & chest look nice & tight,& my veins stand out everywhere. Oddly though I don't feel like I'm really pumped as so many describe. I can just flat out torture my body until I just can't move. But I can take a half hour break & feel like I never done a thing & do it all over again. I really feel like for the effort I'm putting in I should be seeing more back in the terms of adding mass.

Whiskeyjack, I'm adding weight slowly. I started at a low of around 100lbs on the bench up to 160 now, around 25lbs for DB curls now at 40 & went from no weighted set ups to doing them with a 35lb plate to name just a few things .
I've never had any bouts of weakness that I can recall, but just flat out tiredness I do. I think some of that has been due to the heat the last month as well though, because I'm outside all day in the heat & have to ware jeans on top of that.

I'm not going to really comment on the Kokomo comment, other than ya it really sucks here.

Captain, One problem is I work out at home so it's just too easy to slip in the basement when I'm bored & lift for a while. I did start out doing something almost every day, be it lifting, cardio, or riding my bike. But I have cut it down quite a bit, trying to stick to the Mon,Wed,Fri thing.
I do eat pretty good & normally get in six to eight pretty decent small meals per day. I'll admit I'm not counting every last calorie, carb, & bit of protein I'm eating. I know about where I'm at every day, but I'm not going over it with a fine tooth comb. I take a MV & fish oil every day, along with some whey throughout the day at various times. I was taking creatine than stopped for a few weeks & just started back on it again. Other than that that is all I take.
I would like to go to the doctor & have a check up, But right now we are between insurance because of a job change so I'm SOL unless I foot the whole bill. I wouldent care normally but at the moment things are very tight.


One last thing before I go, this is sorta off topic. But I have Osgood-Schlatter Disease in my let knee & it can be un bearable at times trying to do just about anything that involves leg work. I have had this since I was a teen & have tried everything from perception anti-inflammatory drugs & pain killers to wraps, heat & Ice. I recently tried Triflex hoping it would help some, but oddly I think it just makes it worse. Do any of you have any suggestions that might help. With winter just around the corner I'm hoping I can find something to relive some of the soreness I get in it, because the cold really plays hell on it. And with lifting on top of that I'm sure I'll be in for a real treat.

Thanks again guys...

[Baldsnake]

My son had severe OS growing up. Now in his late 40s he has grown out of it and is an active PE coach. Research shows that Synvisc shots help which leads me to believe that Hyaluronic Acid may also work for you. Jarrow Formulas Hyaluronic Acid Complex is the best available. Google away and research.

[JoeST]

Thanks Baldsnake, I will look into that...

[jgreystoke]

Lots of great advice there from the guys.

With your own home gym(my situation too), you may simply be tempted to do too much.

It is possible that taking a week off, and then going to an abbreviated routine for a while, will kick start your gains, and your enthusiasm.

Basing such a prog around the big three categories of lifts will allow you to hit everything with a minimum of exercises.

Something as simple as clean and press, squat, row.........or dead, weighted chin and dip. You could alternate them. You could even go to twice per week, say mon/fri, which is what built up most of my size. You could do small stuff like curls, abs etc on wednesday or whenever you like......won't cut into recovery from the heavy days, 'less you go overboard.

Best of luck getting out of your rut, whatever you decide to do.

[JoeST]

I manage to get a pretty good workout in last night, but I have made up my mind to go ahead & lay back for at least the next week. I was pretty pumped up yesterday (work had me going) so that helped. I do think I need to take the time away, both to let myself re coupe a bit & so I can get caught up on some things I've been putting off.

[tryn2getstrong]

I've been like that multiple times, in my experience it's almost always been not enough sleep/rest or just not eating enough.

[crazycelt]

I manage to get a pretty good workout in last night, but I have made up my mind to go ahead & lay back for at least the next week. I was pretty pumped up yesterday (work had me going) so that helped. I do think I need to take the time away, both to let myself re coupe a bit & so I can get caught up on some things I've been putting off.

It sounds like you've got the situation in a better perspective today. Everyones "transition period" during their workout program is diffirent. Keep showing up here for the support and encouragement. I think we all benefit in some way of another from each other!

[bkeithb]

First - let me say that Kokomo ain't that bad. I lived there in the early 90's while I was stationed at Grissom AFB (just north of you in Peru, IN).

Second - let me say that I was in your shoes just a few short weeks ago. I'd been working out for a yr & half with very little breaks. And my body just said "take a break!" I did (for about 10 days or so) and then got back at it. Maybe that's what you need. Just a week or so break ... and then get back at it?

Give it a try!

[domineaux]

For some reason I have gotten into a big slump that I cannot manage to pull out of. When I first got started in this I was doing really well, had tons of energy, was always ready to go, & wonted to do even more when I knew I had enough.
Now almost every time I go to do my work out I just can't get into it. I will drag through the first part hoping that I will come to life somewhere in the middle, which I have a couple times. But the last few times I just cannot get going no matter what.
The only thing I have changed is that I'm eating more & I'm not doing much if any cardio. I stopped the cardio because at first I was trying to loose some of my belly fat, but thinking I could gain a bit of muscle. I did gain a small amount of muscle & lost a bit of the fat. But I wont to add some noticeable mass, & now I just can't get into the grove.
I've tried to lay back for a few days thinking my body just needed some rest & that hasent helped. I've tried energy drinks like ABB's Speed Shot, & Adrenaline Stack & at first they were helpful to some degree but now have almost no effect. I'm not drinking them all the time so I wouldent think it was a tolerance thing. I have maybe two of them a week & normally they are about they only caffeinated thing I have.
I don't know what to do anymore. I have the desire to do it, but I'm lacking the energy to get me through. I wont desperately to get back on track but I'm not sure what to do.
Have any of you guys been through this? And if so how did you get out of the dead spot & get going again?

1. You've got to workout where you progressively lift more weight.

2. You have to eat like a horse, which could be as high as 3 to 4,000 calorie per day of nutritious food spaced over 5-6 meals a day. You must also do this even on off workout days, because your body need nutrition to rebuild.

3. You have to have at least 1-1/2 grams of protein per Pound of Bodyweight.

Take several protein shakes a day. A good protein supplement has high protein content and glutamine, along with amnio acids that are need for proper absorption by your body.

You've gotta lift constantly heavier to get bigger, because the muscles adjust to load. Those muscles have to be traumatized to be vitalized and grow from food intake. Protein is critical, because muscle is protein and there is a binding between the protein you eat and your muscles. (simple way to say it)

A suggestion - lay off all the supplements except protein until you get a handle on your training. Good nutritious food is the best source for what your body needs.

Don't take longer than 1-1/4 hour per workout. Until you really get started good I suggest workout everyother day. This way you won't burn out or possible go catabolic, which is basically negative to growth because you've exceeded the level of nutrition your body needs for your workouts.

[RollTide1]

I just started lifting in January and at the time I weighed in at 146 and could only bench 125 and dead lift 145. This week I;m in at 168, bench is 335 and I just dead lifted 325( I'm stoked) I've busted a nut to get here and won't look back now. I have a good reason for bodybuilding, One I fight everyday called crohn's diseases lifting has help keep this diseaese under control, and the other reason I stay motovataed is this,

Wow, you added 210 pounds to your bench in nine months?

[empresscat]

Domineaux covered my thoughts in diet, and many others have mentioned rest. If you are working hard, you need to rest properly and eat big!

[OnTheRoad]

I may be off the mark as I don't know where you live but here goes... Could you get a day pass for a gym near you? Sometimes just being around other people who are lifting etc can get your enthusiasm going again and maybe give you some inspriration.

When I am bored stupid with my routine I visit another gym for a few days and it has helped a little.

I hope you feel better soon.

[joeswife112099]

I just think you need LOTS of quality time with your wife!!!!